Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink,’ having a good uniform canopy of dark pink decorative flowers. The new variety has a medium vigor, free branching, with a uniform spreading habit and good foliage presentation.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification:Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: The new Chrysanthemum variety denomination is‘Vamp Time Dark Pink.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, andreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink.’ ‘Vamp Time DarkPink,’ identified as 20544-1, originated from a naturally occurringwhole plant mutation grown in a controlled planting of the unpatentedvariety ‘Vamp Time,’ in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom. The newvariety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ has been asexually reproduced byvegetative cuttings in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom and thedistinguishing characteristics are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ is a pot type of Chrysanthemum plant varietyhaving dark pink decorative flowers with a domed capitulum form.

Comparison with Parent

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ aresimilar to the parent ‘Vamp Time’ in plant habitat and growth rate. Inside-by-side comparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom,under commercial practice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘VampTime Dark Pink’ compared to plants of the parent ‘Vamp Time’ in thefollowing characteristics.

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ produces dark pink        decorative flowers whereas the parent ‘Vamp Time’ produces light        pink flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ have similar        inflorescence to plants of the parent ‘Vamp Time.’

Comparison with Other Varieties

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ aredissimilar to ‘Padmos Time Pink’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.10/364,267), in plant habitat and growth rate. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons in Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom, under commercialpractice, plants of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’compared to the plants of ‘Padmos Time Pink’ in the followingcharacteristics.

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ produces dark pink        decorative flowers whereas ‘Padmos Time Pink’ produces dark pink        decorative flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ have larger        and taller inflorescence than plants of ‘Padmos Time Pink.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new Chrysanthemumvariety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’ are shown in the accompanying digitalphotograph. The colors shown are as true as possible within the usuallimits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘Vamp Time Dark Pink’grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 54 days from thecommencement of Short Days.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new Chrysanthemum variety ‘Vamp TimeDark Pink’ is of plants grown in a greenhouse in Chichester, WestSussex, United Kingdom in the month of May. The cultivar has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary significantly with variations in the environment such astemperature, length of day and light intensity, without any variance ingenotype. The commercial classification of the new variety is a potChrysanthemum.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperatureconditions averaging about 19° C. at night and about 17° C. to 24° C.during the day under light conditions of about 5000 to 6000 footcandles. The plants respond well to the use of growth retardant, such asB9 treatment at about 2 g per liter. To produce a commercial product theplants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. The typicalcontainer size for commercial growth is 1 liter. It has been observedthat the shelf life of the new variety is about 28 days with a responsetime of about 7.5 weeks. The new variety is suitable for growth in atemperature range of 15° C. to 25° C.

The new variety may be produced as a spray. The following description iswith respect to a plant produced as pot. In the description of this newChrysanthemum variety, color values have been taken from The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.).

Plant

-   Plant type: Pot.-   Habit: Upright and free branching.-   Height: 20 cm.-   Width: 32 cm.-   Branching characteristics: Upright and free branching.-   Length of lateral branches: 12 cm.-   Number of breaks from pinch: 4.-   Stem color: 138B.-   Response time: 52 days.-   Vigor: Medium.-   Shelf life: 28 days.-   Disease/pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed to    date.-   Growth retardant type and treatment: 3 applications of 2.5 gm/liter    B9 @ 2, 21 and 28 days after sticking unrooted cuttings.-   The plants were grown for 2 weeks in Long Day conditions (20 hours    of light) and then transferred to Short Day conditions (13 hours of    dark).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Vegetative propagation via stem cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—14 days with soil temperatures of 18° C.        -   Rooting habit.—After 7 days the first roots emerge and form            root primordia. In 14 Long Days a complete root system is            developed.

Foliage

-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 9.-   Compound or single: Single.-   Arrangement of leaves: Alternate.    -   -   Shape of leaf.—Typically 5 lobed.        -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 4.5. Length (cm): 7.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Attachment.—Petioled.        -   Aspect.—Slightly undulating.        -   Margin.—Lobed.        -   Surface characteristics.—Top: slightly pubescent. Bottom:            pubescent.-   Petiole:    -   -   Color.—138A.        -   Length.—1.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.-   Venation: Net prominent mid vein at underside.    -   -   Color.—Upper side: near 147C. Under side: near 147C.-   Color:    -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—Near 137A; under side: near 137C.        -   Young leaf, upper side.—Near 147A; under side: near 137C.

Flower

-   Flower appearance: Matte.-   Flower type: Decorative.-   Flower form: Domed.-   Flower shape: Round.-   Flowering habit: Domed capitulam.-   Number of blossoms per branch: 4.-   Inflorescence form: Cyme.    -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms.—9 cm.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number.—13.        -   Color.—Near 138A.        -   Length.—0.7 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.        -   Texture/appearance.—Pubescent.-   Peduncle: Peduncle length is shortest at the terminal flower and    progressively longer moving down the stem.    -   -   Length.—8.5 cm (average).        -   Color.—Near 138B.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly undulating.        -   Strength.—Medium.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Terminal: 3 cm; lateral: 3.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near 138B.        -   Surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Habit.—Slightly undulating.        -   Strength.—Medium.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Form/shape.—Straight.        -   Texture/appearance.—Matte.        -   Number per flower.—95.        -   Length.—4 cm; Width: 1.3 cm.        -   Apex.—Dentate.        -   Base.—Tapered.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Form/shape.—Cylindric.        -   Texture/appearance.—Shiny.        -   Number per flower.—14.        -   Length.—0.5 cm; Width: 0.1 cm.        -   Diameter of disc.—0.3 cm.-   Fragrance: None.-   Flower bud (at onset of color):    -   -   Length.—1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Form/shape.—Spherical.-   General flower color:    -   -   1. Ray florets, upper side.—62B. Immature: near 63C. Mature:            near 62B. Older/Fading: near 62C.        -   2. Ray florets, under side.—65B. Immature: near 65A. Mature:            near 65B. Older/Fading: near 65C.        -   3. Disc florets.—Immature: near 145B. Mature: near 145B.            Older/Fading: near 145C.        -   4. Bud.—68B.-   Flower progression with age: Flower form does not change but there    is a slight colour fading with age.-   Lastingness of blooms is about 28 days.

Reproductive Organs

-   Gynoecium present on Ray and Disc florets.-   Ray florets per individual flower:    -   -   Pistil number.—95.        -   Stigma color.—Near 3A.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—Near 154B.        -   Style length.—0.4 cm.-   Disc florets per individual flower:    -   -   Pistil number.—14.        -   Stigma color.—Near 3A.        -   Stigma shape.—Forked.        -   Style color.—Near 154B.        -   Style length.—0.4 cm.-   Androecium not observed. Fruit and seeds: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.